Table panel and process for making the same

ABSTRACT

In a process for making a table panel, a looped peripheral frame confining a through-hole is formed in a first mold. The peripheral frame is placed in a second mold, and a bottom plate is formed in the through-hole such that a lateral end of the bottom plate extends along and is connected intimately to an inner wall of the peripheral frame. The peripheral frame and the bottom plate are placed in a third mold, and a transparent top plate is formed on the bottom plate in the through-hole. The top plate has a lateral end connected intimately to the inner wall of the peripheral frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a table panel and a process for making the table panel, more particularly to a process for molding a table panel that has a pre-designed pattern or combination of colors.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Tabletops made from different materials exhibit different visual effects. For instance, wooden tabletops have wood grains. Stone materials are used to form tabletops because of their natural veins and their rich colors. The color of plastic tabletops is determined by the color of the plastic material selected. Conventional plastic tabletops are mostly monochromatic. Some plastic tabletops are formed with grains or veins simulating those of wood or stone by adding a raw material of a different color to a primary raw material that has a different color during formation thereof. On the whole, the visual effects displayed by the conventional tabletops are determined by the colors of the materials used. They do not have any pre-designed pattern or combination of colors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide a process for making a table panel which has a pre-designed pattern or combination of colors to enhance the ornamental aspect and value of the table panel.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a process for making a table panel includes: forming in a first mold a looped peripheral frame confining a through-hole; placing the peripheral frame in a second mold, and forming a bottom plate in the through-hole with a lateral end of the bottom plate extending along and being connected intimately to an inner wall of the peripheral frame; and placing the peripheral frame and the bottom plate in a third mold, and forming a transparent top plate on the bottom plate in the through-hole with a lateral end of the top plate connected intimately to the inner wall of the peripheral frame.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present invention, a table panel produced according to the aforementioned process includes a looped peripheral frame, a bottom plate, and a top plate. The peripheral frame has a top side and a bottom side, and confines a through-hole. The bottom plate and the top plate are formed in a stack within the through-hole, and have lateral ends extending along and connected intimately to an inner wall of the peripheral frame. The top plate is transparent to permit viewing of the bottom plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0009]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing schematically a process embodying the present invention;

[0010]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a table panel produced according to the process of FIG. 1;

[0011]FIG. 3 is a top view of the table panel of FIG. 2; and

[0012]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of another preferred embodiment of a table panel produced according to the process of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing schematically a preferred embodiment of a process for making a table panel 1 embodying the present invention. The table panel 1 is adapted for placement on a tabletop of a table (not shown) having a larger surface area, and is capable of rotation relative to the tabletop. The table panel 1 is formed from a plastic raw material, preferably a durable polystyrene material or other equivalent resins. Referring to FIG. 1, in combination with FIGS. 2 and 3, the process for making the table panel 1 includes the step of forming a looped peripheral frame 11 confining a through-hole 110 (see FIG. 3) in a first mold (A). In this embodiment, the peripheral frame 11 is circular, but it may have other suitable geometric shapes. A pigment may be added to the polystyrene material when forming the peripheral frame 11 so that the peripheral frame 11 has a specific color. Subsequently, the peripheral frame 11 is placed in a second mold (B) , and a bottom plate 12 is formed in the through-hole 110 such that a lateral end 123 of the bottom plate 12 extends along and is connected intimately to an inner wall 113 of the peripheral frame 11. The bottom plate 12 may also be formed from polystyrene. During formation of the bottom plate 12, a pattern is formed therein by adding a pigment to the polystyrene so as to give the bottom plate 12 a color different from that of the peripheral frame 11. A plurality of decorative projections 125 and decorative holes 124 are simultaneously and integrally formed in the bottom plate 12 to constitute parts of the pattern. In addition, a ring member 126 with circumferentially spaced-apart slots 127 is integrally formed on the bottom plate 12. Thereafter, the peripheral frame 11 together with the bottom plate 12 is placed in a third mold (C), and a transparent top plate 13, which is also made of a material that includes polystyrene, is formed on the bottom plate 12 in the through-hole 110 such that the decorative projections 125 protrude into the top plate 13 and such that a lateral end 130 of the top plate 13 is connected intimately to the inner wall 113 of the peripheral frame 11. A plurality of rollers 14 are then mounted on the ring member 126 via the slots 127.

[0014] The table panel 1 thus produced according to the above-described process includes a looped peripheral frame 11, a patterned bottom plate 12, and a transparent top plate 13. The peripheral frame 11 has top and bottom sides 111, 112, and inner and outer walls 113, 114. The inner wall 113 confines a through-hole 110. The top and bottom plates 13, 12 are formed in a stack within the through-hole 110, and have lateral ends 130, 123 extending along and connected intimately to the inner wall 113 of the peripheral frame 11. The peripheral frame 11 and the bottom plate 12 have different colors. The bottom plate 12 has top and bottom faces 122, 121, and includes decorative holes 124 that extend from the top face 122 to the bottom face 121. A plurality of decorative projections 125 protrude from and are integrally formed with the top face 122. The bottom face 121 is flush with the bottom side 112 of the peripheral frame 11, whereas the top face 122 is at a level below the top side 111 of the peripheral frame 11. The top plate 13 is transparent to permit viewing of the bottom plate 12, and has a top face 131 flush with the top side 111 of the peripheral frame 11, and a bottom face 132 formed with recesses 133 for receiving the decorative projections 125. The bottom plate 12 further includes a ring member 126 which projects downward from the bottom face 121 of the bottom plate 12 and which is adapted to slide along an annular rail on a support (not shown), such as a tabletop (not shown), and a plurality of circumferentially spaced-apart rollers 14 mounted on the ring member 126 via slots 127 so as to be adapted to roll along the rail (not shown).

[0015] As the peripheral frame 11 and the bottom plate 12 have different colors, the table panel 1 appears colorful. Besides, the decorative holes 124 in the bottom plate 12 can be suitably arranged to constitute a desired pattern, which is visible through the top plate 13, to enhance the appearance and value of the table panel 1.

[0016]FIG. 4 illustrates another preferred embodiment of a table panel 2 produced according to the process embodying the present invention. The table panel 2 is adapted to be mounted on a table leg member 3 having table legs 31. This embodiment differs from the previous embodiment in that a plurality of decorative pieces 24, which are formed from a plastic raw material having a color different from those of a peripheral frame 21 and a bottom plate 22, are inserted into decorative holes 221 in the bottom plate 22 and protrude into a transparent top plate 23 when the latter is formed. In addition, mounting holes 212 are formed in a bottom side 211 of the peripheral frame 21 and are adapted to receive upper ends of the table legs 31 tightly. Certainly, screw fasteners and connecting plates can be used to reinforce the connection between the peripheral frame 21 and the table legs 31. As the decorative pieces 24 are separately formed, the decorative pieces 24 and the decorative holes 221 can be more flexible in design.

[0017] While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

I claim:
 1. A process for making a table panel, comprising: forming in a first mold a looped peripheral frame confining a through-hole; placing said peripheral frame in a second mold, and forming a bottom plate in said through-hole with a lateral end of said bottom plate extending along and being connected intimately to an inner wall of said peripheral frame; and placing said peripheral frame and said bottom plate in a third mold, and forming a transparent top plate on said bottom plate in said through-hole with a lateral end of said top plate connected intimately to said inner wall of said peripheral frame.
 2. The process according to claim 1, wherein said peripheral frame, said bottom plate and said top plate are made of a material that includes polystyrene.
 3. The process according to claim 1, further comprising, forming a pattern in said bottom plate during the step of forming said bottom plate.
 4. The process according to claim 3, wherein said pattern is formed by providing said bottom plate with a color different from that of said peripheral frame.
 5. The process according to claim 4, wherein said pattern is further formed by providing said bottom plate with integral decorative projections that protrude into said top plate when said top plate is formed.
 6. The process according to claim 5, wherein said pattern is further formed by providing additionally decorative holes in said bottom plate.
 7. The process according to claim 4, wherein said pattern is further formed by providing decorative holes in said bottom plate, and inserting decorative pieces into said decorative holes, said decorating pieces protruding into said top plate when said top plate is formed.
 8. The process according to claim 3, further comprising, forming a ring member which projects downward from said bottom plate.
 9. The process according to claim 3, further comprising, forming mounting holes in a bottom side of said peripheral frame.
 10. A table panel produced according to the process of claim 1, comprising: a looped peripheral frame having a top side and a bottom side and confining a through-hole; and a bottom plate and a top plate formed in a stack within said through-hole and having lateral ends extending along and connected intimately to an inner wall of said peripheral frame, said top plate being transparent to permit viewing of said bottom plate.
 11. The table panel according to claim 10, wherein said peripheral frame and said bottom plate have different colors, said bottom plate being patterned.
 12. The table panel according to claim 11, wherein said bottom plate further includes decorative projections which protrude into said top plate and which are integrally formed with said bottom plate, said top plate having recesses to receive said decorative projections.
 13. The table panel according to claim 11, wherein said bottom plate has decorative holes formed therein.
 14. The table panel according to claim 13, wherein said bottom plate further includes decorative projections inserted into said decorative holes to protrude into said top plate, said top plate having recesses to receive said decorative projections.
 15. The table panel according to claim 11, wherein said top plate has a top face which is flush with said top side of said peripheral frame, said bottom plate having a bottom face flush with said bottom side of said peripheral frame.
 16. The table panel according to claim 11, wherein said bottom plate further includes a ring member which projects downward from a bottom face of said bottom plate, and a plurality of rollers mounted on said ring member and spaced apart circumferentially.
 17. The table panel according to claim 11, wherein said peripheral frame has a bottom side with mounting holes formed therein. 